I have not succumbed to the portability of a laptop but the high percentage of people who swear by them will be happy to hear about a discovery that could revolutionize the length of battery use. CNET News reports that Stanford University researchers have found a way to give a conventional battery-powered laptop 40 hours of battery life, a huge improvement over the usual 4 hours. Assistant (not for long) professor Yi Cui and his Cardinal colleagues have come up with a way to use silicon nanowires to give rechargeable lithium ion batteries, used in laptops, iPods, video cameras and cell phones as much as 10 times more charge...
Cui says "it's not a small improvement, it's a revolutionary development." If you're expecting to purchase a piece of this revolution, you may have to wait awhile though. Cui expects the battery to be commercialized and available within "several years", pending testing. The secret behind this new finding is in a new type of silicon nanowire anode that does not fracture and there's nothing worse than a fractured nanowire!!!
While no price has been attached to this new discovery, such is not the case with Steven Jobs new laptop, just slightly bigger than a nanowire. Apple's new MacBook Air at 3 pounds, sells for $1,799 or $600 a pound. How many would you like???
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1920] Bathtub gin on the rocks: Prohibition goes into effect in the U.S. Here's your history lesson of the day: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wqid7KvEKi0 ...
- 1961] Signed, sealed, delivered: Mickey Mantle signs a $75,000 contract with the Yankees, making him the highest paid player in the American League - until next year...
- 1964] Premiered on this date: "Hello Dolly" starring Carol Channing opens at the St. James Theatre on Broadway. Here's Carol with one of her successor's, Pearl Bailey with the title tune: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PGYH-Zcrj8A ...1974] "Jaws" by Peter Benchley is published and quickly becomes a best seller with plans in the works for a movie...1976] "The Donny & Marie Show" starts a 3-year run with "A little bit Country, A little bit Rock & Roll": http://youtube.com/watch?v=_AfXznngjGw ...
- 1965] Curtains: "Outer Limits" bows out on ABC-TV after 2 years...1973] "Bonanza" airs its last episode. It debuted on September 12, 1959...
- 1970] Sue, si: Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball's reserve clause...
- 1972] Super Sunday: The Dallas Cowboys win their first Super Bowl, 24-3 as they dominate the Miami Dolphins in New Orleans. Dallas and Miami will be at this year's Super Bowl, but only if they buy tickets...
- 1979] "D-I-V-O-R-C-E": Married in 1975, Cher and Greg Allman are officially divorced...
- 1988] Jimmy the Geek: CBS-TV fires Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder one day after his racial comment that during slavery, "blacks had been bred to produce stronger offspring." Here's Jimmy in action: http://youtube.com/watch?v=REFJxwQPQUY ...
- 1997] Gunned down: Bill Cosby's only son, Ennis, 27, is shot to death while changing a flat tire on a dark road in Los Angeles...
- 2005] Manning mauling: The Patriots beat the Colts 20-3 to win the AFC Divisional playoffs. This Sunday at 3, the Pats play host to San Diego for the title...
Music Memories:
- 1957] Recorded on this date: "Lucille" - Little Richard. Here's Mr. Penniman doing a great live version in the 60s on British TV: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mcxej1zJKTo ...
- 1976] Released on this date: "Frampton Comes Alive" LP - Peter Frampton...
Commentary:
The annual 'Walk-A-Thon for Homeless Veterans', benefiting the New England Shelter in Boston is scheduled for Sunday, January 27th from 9:30 a.m. to Noon at the Watertown Mall. You may sponsor Gordon Brown by sending a check or money order in any amount, made out to 'VFW Dept. of Mass.", to Gordon Brown, 15 Quirk St. #7, Watertown, MA 02472. In the memo section of your check, write: 'Homeless Vets Program'. Gordy has gotten involved with this indoor walk for the last several years and should be commended for it...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Kate Moss (34), Roy Jones, Jr. (39), Sade (Adu) http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZuVVMkuWnng (49), Debbie Allen (58), John Carpenter (60), Dr. Laura Schlessinger (61), Jim Stafford (64), Ronnie Milsap (65), Barbara Lynn (66), A.J. Foyt (73) and Marilyn Horne (74)...
Timeline Countdown: 4 days until NFL Conference championships, 17 down and 2 to go for the Patriots, 18 days until the Super Bowl and 29 days until pitchers and catchers report voluntarily...
